Modified lipids produced from oil-bearing microbial biomass and oils
View Patent ↗Provided are methods for preparing chemically modified lipids. The lipids are obtained from heterotrophically cultured microalgae and are subjected to an epoxidation reaction. The microalgae include those from the genus Parachlorella, Prototheca, Chlorella , or strains having at least 85% nucleotide sequence identity in 23S rRNA sequences to a Parachlorella, Prototheca , or Chlorella strain that are cultured in a bioreactor substantially in the absence of light.
1. A method of making a chemically modified lipid, comprising:
(a) providing a microalgal lipid comprising no more than 500 ppm color-generating impurities, wherein the lipid is obtained from microalgae cultured under heterotrophic growth conditions in a bioreactor substantially in the absence of light; and
(b) subjecting the microalgal lipid to an epoxidation reaction to produce the modified lipid,
wherein the microalgae are selected from strains Parachlorella, Prototheca, Chlorella and strains having at least 85% nucleotide sequence identity in 23S rRNA sequences to a Parachlorella, Prototheca , or Chlorella strain.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microalgal lipid is obtained from microalgae cultured on sucrose.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the microalgal lipid is obtained from microalgae cultured on sorghum, sugar cane, sugar beet, or molasses.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microalgal lipid is obtained from microalgae cultured on glucose.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least 50% of the microalgal or modified lipid is C16 or a lipid of longer chain lengths.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least 20% of the microalgal or modified lipid is C18.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least 30% of the microalgal or modified lipid is C18.
8. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least 40% of the microalgal or modified lipid is C18.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least 50% of the microalgal or modified lipid is C18.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the microalgae are Chlorella.
11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the microalgae are Parachlorella.
12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the microalgae are incapable of performing photosynthesis.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the microalgae are Prototheca.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the microalgae are selected from the group consisting of Prototheca wickerhamii, Prototheca stagnora, Prototheca portoricensis, Prototheca moriformis , and Prototheca zopfii.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the microalgae are Prototheca moriformis.